a primitive root; to be dense or dark, i.e. to becloud; cover with a cloud.
Transliteration:ʻûwb
Pronunciation:oob
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H5743}}` (ʻûwb), a primitive root, conveys the core meaning of being "dense" or "dark," specifically in the sense of being "beclouded" or "covered with a cloud." Its semantic range points to an action or state of obscuring, veiling, or making inaccessible through a thick, cloud-like density. This implies a barrier, a concealment, or a loss of clarity due to an enveloping medium. The root emphasizes the *effect* of being covered by something dense, leading to obscurity or hiddenness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root `{{H5743}}` (ʻûwb) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in the book of Lamentations:
* **Lamentations 3:44**: "You have covered Yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through." [[Lamentations 3:44]]
In this poignant verse, the prophet Jeremiah (or the communal voice of Judah) laments the desperate state of the people. The verb `{{H5743}}` is used in the Piel stem, indicating an intensive or causative action: God Himself has "covered" or "enveloped" Himself with a cloud. This is not a literal meteorological cloud, but a metaphorical one, signifying a profound separation or withdrawal. The purpose of this divine "clouding" is explicitly stated: "so that no prayer can pass through." This imagery powerfully conveys the experience of a people feeling utterly cut off from God, their cries unable to reach the divine ear. The context of Lamentations is one of national catastrophe, judgment, and profound suffering, where the usual channels of divine communication and solace seem to be blocked. The use of `{{H5743}}` here paints a vivid picture of divine inaccessibility and a perceived silence from heaven.
### Related Words & Concepts
While `{{H5743}}` is unique in its singular occurrence, its meaning resonates with several related Hebrew words and theological concepts:
* **Clouds and Darkness:**
* `{{H6051}}` (‘ānān): The general word for "cloud," often associated with God's presence (e.g., the pillar of cloud in the wilderness, [[Exodus 13:21]]) or His judgment.
* `{{H6049}}` (‘āv): Another term for "cloud," specifically a thick cloud, sometimes denoting obscurity or divine mystery.
* `{{H6207}}` (‘ăraphel): Refers to "thick darkness" or a "dense cloud," often associated with theophany and the awe-inspiring, yet unapproachable, presence of God (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 4:11]]).
* `{{H2822}}` (choshek): "Darkness," a fundamental concept often signifying chaos, evil, or the absence of light/God's presence.
The distinction of `{{H5743}}` is its active sense of *being covered* or *beclouded*, implying an intentional act of obscuring, rather than merely describing a cloud or darkness.
* **Divine Hiding/Withdrawal:**
* `{{H5641}}` (sātar): "To hide," often used in the context of God hiding His face (hastarat panim), signifying divine displeasure, judgment, or a period of perceived abandonment (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 31:17]], [[Psalm 30:7]]). This concept is very close to the experience described in [[Lamentations 3:44]].
* `{{H7896}}` (shākan): "To dwell," often in the sense of God's tabernacling presence. The inverse of this presence can be experienced as a withdrawal, which `{{H5743}}` powerfully articulates.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of `{{H5743}}` in [[Lamentations 3:44]] carries profound theological weight. It describes not merely the *presence* of a cloud, but God's deliberate act of *covering Himself* with a cloud. This imagery signifies:
1. **Divine Inaccessibility and Withdrawal:** The primary theological implication is the experience of God's perceived withdrawal. For the suffering people, God is no longer readily approachable; a barrier has been erected. This is a terrifying state for a covenant people who rely on divine communication and intervention.
2. **The Barring of Prayer:** The direct consequence stated is that prayer cannot pass through. This speaks to the deepest anguish of a believer: feeling that their cries are unheard, that the divine ear is closed. It highlights the vital importance of prayer as a means of communion and the profound distress when that channel seems blocked.
3. **Judgment and Grief:** In the context of Lamentations, this divine clouding is understood as a manifestation of God's judgment for the sins of His people. However, it is also presented as a source of immense grief and despair for the supplicant, who longs for reconciliation and relief.
4. **The *Deus Absconditus* (Hidden God):** This verse offers a powerful biblical expression of the "hidden God" – not hidden in His essence, but hidden in His active engagement and responsiveness to His people in a time of crisis. It is a theological statement about the *experience* of God's absence, even when His sovereignty remains undeniable. It underscores the mystery of divine action and inaction in human suffering.
### Summary
The Hebrew root `{{H5743}}` (ʻûwb), meaning "to be dense or dark," specifically "to becloud" or "cover with a cloud," appears uniquely in [[Lamentations 3:44]]. In this solitary occurrence, it describes God's deliberate act of "covering Himself with a cloud" (‘ûwb) so that prayer cannot penetrate. This powerful metaphor conveys the profound experience of divine withdrawal and inaccessibility during a period of intense suffering and judgment. Theologically, `{{H5743}}` encapsulates the anguish of feeling cut off from God, the perceived closing of the channel of prayer, and the mysterious reality of God's hiddenness (Deus Absconditus) in times of national or personal crisis. It is a word that speaks to the deepest human cry for divine presence in the face of apparent divine silence.
TRV